Work

Recent advances in Konjac Glucomannan-based self-healing hydrogels for effective wound management

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The skin has an intrinsic capacity for regeneration and serves as a critical barrier against microbial invasion, mechanical damage, and environmental stress; this function is compromised in acute and chronic wounds, necessitating effective strategies for rapid repair. Hydrogel‑based dressings have gained prominence because they can absorb exudates, maintain a moist microenvironment, and support tissue regeneration. Konjac glucomannan (KGM), a biocompatible and biodegradable polysaccharide, has been increasingly explored as a matrix for advanced wound dressings due to its hydrophilicity and chemically tunable hydroxyl-rich backbone. Recent studies have reported KGM-based self-healing hydrogels constructed through reversible non-covalent interactions (for example, hydrogen bonding and metal coordination) and dynamic covalent linkages (including Schiff base and acylhydrazone bonds). These dynamic networks enable fast recovery after mechanical disruption, improving durability, injectability, and conformability on irregular or mechanically stressed wound sites. In parallel, KGM-based composite hydrogels integrating nanoparticles, exosomes, and antimicrobial agents have been developed to improve infection, oxidative stress, and impaired angiogenesis in complex wound microenvironments. This review summarises recent advances in the design, fabrication and biological performance of KGM-based self-healing hydrogels across acute and chronic wound models, and highlights key material-design challenges and translational considerations that should guide future technology development and clinical translation.

Source: Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications

DOI: 10.1016/j.carpta.2026.101106